1
as in wise
displaying or marked by rude boldness
the nervy waiter held up the small tip and called out to the departing customers, "Hope it doesn't break the bank!"
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in adventurous
inclined or willing to take risks
nervy rock climbers wanting to make gravity-defying ascents
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in nervous
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty
I'm a little nervy about my first job interview
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nervy
Marty Supreme is Safdie’s first solo effort since splitting with Benny; their last work together was the fractious, nervy hit Uncut Gems.
—
David Sims, The Atlantic, 25 Dec. 2025
The game had opened up after halftime, never tight enough for even a nervy possession or two, with the lone Mizzou run countered by a Jamari McDowell 3-pointer.
—Sam McDowell December 7, Kansas City Star, 8 Dec. 2025
Marty Supreme is nervy and New York–y and based on a famous table-tennis player.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
The last time San Diego State opened a men’s basketball season against Long Beach State, in 2010, Kawhi Leonard and the Aztecs trailed by one deep into the second half and needed three 3s by backup guard James Rahon to grind out a nervy road win.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nervy
David Sims, The Atlantic, 25 Dec. 2025
The game had opened up after halftime, never tight enough for even a nervy possession or two, with the lone Mizzou run countered by a Jamari McDowell 3-pointer.
—Sam McDowell December 7, Kansas City Star, 8 Dec. 2025
Marty Supreme is nervy and New York–y and based on a famous table-tennis player.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
The last time San Diego State opened a men’s basketball season against Long Beach State, in 2010, Kawhi Leonard and the Aztecs trailed by one deep into the second half and needed three 3s by backup guard James Rahon to grind out a nervy road win.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nervy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nervy
Adjective
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Gardens of all sizes include water-wise, ornamental and edible plants, natives, succulents, views, chickens, canyons, orchards and more.—
Martina Schimitschek,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
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Chief among them is the late and especially great Dame Maggie Smith, who gave one of her most powerful and enduring performances as the prim and wise Violet Crawley.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Where filmmakers from Germany and around the world present their work freely to our endlessly adventurous audiences.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
6 Mar. 2026
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Gabon This is a beach for the adventurous.—
Melanie van Zyl,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The across-the-board beat may help settle a nervous investor base, at least for the time being, as Oracle’s results and backlog point to a continuing surge in demand for AI infrastructure.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
10 Mar. 2026
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Projections by Paramount’s management team that at least $6 billion in cost savings will result from the merger have made all of Hollywood nervous, but especially the workforce at WBD.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Musgraves and Hannah Lux Davis co-directed the song’s cheeky video, which is set in a grocery store and is ripe with fruit-touching and wistful stares.—
Travis Pinson,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Mar. 2026
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Soon to no longer collect interest on the unexpected windfall, supervisor Jeff Boone made a cheeky request before initiating the eight-figure payment back to the state.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Mark Watney is an astronaut who chose to go to Mars and do a daring thing.—
Mike Ryan,
IndieWire,
12 Mar. 2026
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Armed with beauty, daring, hustle, sheer force of will and unwavering ambition, Undine battles an entrenched elite, fearlessly courting controversy, until love and fortune align.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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His first attempt was aborted after a phone call with his worried mother, and the second and third attempts were derailed because the team officials suspected his intentions and dropped him from the squad.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
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Easy-to-install solar panels that plug into a regular outlet are getting attention just as Americans are worried about rising energy costs.—
Jeff Brady,
NPR,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The brand became known for its bold, architectural tailoring and outerwear, hand-produced by a team of women artisans.—
Lucy Maguire,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
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While the main areas can be dramatic and flashy with the disco balls, string lights, and bold colors, the rooms are light and serene—the perfect places to unwind and fall blissfully asleep.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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May, who also pitched for the Minnesota Twins and Mets, remains a prominent — and often fearless — voice in the MLB community as a content creator.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
7 Mar. 2026
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His innovative and fearless approach to storytelling continues to inspire filmmakers and audiences alike.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nervy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nervy. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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